Best runabout?

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Sometimes.. quite often, in fact, I just want to get from A to B. I'm wondering what the best ship to do this would be - a tradeoff between high speed in and out of 'warp', atmospheric handling, and range.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I have a loaner Drake Herald at the moment and that seems fairly quick.
 

DirectorGunner

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That's a tuff one because quantum travel right now depends on the size of the quantum drive and quantum fuel.
For example, Reclaimer jumps afaik must faster than say a sabre.
So consider a compromise between atmo flight/handling or quantum speed and fuel? Which is more important to you?
 

Cugino83

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Hmm well that depend on a lot of factor: quantum fueltank size, Quantum dirrve type and size and of course the ship mass and shape for the in-atmo flight.

Considering the actual PU size for the S1 and S2 quantum I find preatty good the Atlas (Civilian grade A) and the Crossifled (Military Grade B) both those two grande a good compromise beteween quantum speed and fuel consumtion so you can travel from one edge to the other of Stanton system without need to refuel but at decent speed.
There are faster QD but the difference is minimal and considering the fuel milage they force yoou to have stop for refuel so all the advantage go lost...

For in-atmo flight what you want is a light construction ship, better if with a proper airplain-shape and with a decent engine power.
Thigs like the Mustang or the avenger series, the Vanguard, the Gladius, the Sabre or the Cutlass series, that is not really a good shape ship for in-atmo flight, but has massive engine that can compensate that...
 

Starscribe

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That's a tuff one because quantum travel right now depends on the size of the quantum drive and quantum fuel.
For example, Reclaimer jumps afaik must faster than say a sabre.
So consider a compromise between atmo flight/handling or quantum speed and fuel? Which is more important to you?
I don't really have an answer to that - trying to strike a balance. I may have asked a question that doesn't really have an answer - anything that gets to the outskirts fast might take an age to get into the atmosphere / to dock in space, and the reverse might be true too..
 

Mich Angel

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I usually take a midsize ship not the fastest not the slowest decent in both quantum and easy to handle once arriving so no struggle with landing that just add time to the A-B trip etc..

Any of the Cutlass, Sentinel, Valkyrie, Freelancer, even used the Prospector and Mole they all give a fair good jump speed and are fairly easy to handle on both hangars and pads.

And if it's a long trip I take the time get a refill on my coffee or get some snacks or what ever,

Using the larger ships might quantum you faster but once arriving you have a lot a time left before touch down and that usually make the A-B trip longer than with a medium size ship.

So I avoid doing A-B travel with larger ships not counting Carrack, 600 and Valkyrie as they are fairly easy to fly..

CHEERS! 🍻

EDIT: If I was in a real hurry for a A-B trip I take the Carrack, Valkyrie or 600 and the landing might not be the prettiest, a bit on the edge of crashing but it would be fast. ha ha ha...
 
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c0sign

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Right now, every ship is just a run around ship...until more systems open up your fine in everything...i prefer the smaller ships, less hall ways to run down...Avenger, C8X, and Aurora are usually my goto's if i'm just bebopping around
 

Phil

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To me when someone says runabout, in my opinion this is a fairly small ship, when you take other sci-fi shows lore into factor, a runabout on say Star Trek was pretty small, I would say the Pisces is the perfect example of a runabout ship, I wouldn't go anything to big as it defeats the purpose of being a runabout your just a ship at this point. The MPUV is also a decent choice if your looking for short distances also these ships will fit in large ships for the most part so you can bring them along. Outside of that the Lancer and Cutty are solid choices but to me these are not "runabout" type ships if we're actually sticking to the lore or definition of a runabout.


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NaffNaffBobFace

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A few patches ago I got the Starfarer and the Vanguard as they were the very fastest in Quantum, a dull 15 minute trip was a more manageable 7 minute trip in these ships... and then over the patched different components came in and that changed.

Don't choose a ship based on it's performance right now, that can and will change, and you in turn will be able to make that change with components you change in it.

For a general run-around, what's important to you? For me it was a good turn of speed while still being able to maneuver and carry a ground vehicle.

That left me with the Connie Taurus and the Freelancer. What the Taurus (loaner: Archimedes) loses in maneuverability and top speed it gains in firepower and carrying capacity able to haul up to and including the Ursa. What the Freelancer loses in firepower and only being able to carry the bikes and Graycat Buggy it gains in maneuverability and being the largest ship to be able to fit through a Small Jump Point (connie will be medium jump point).

I keep flip-flopping between the Taurus and the 'Lancer, I suspect I'll have both one day. Go for what serves you best as it is now and be ready to melt and change as the balancing and changes come and go.
 

Starscribe

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I keep flip-flopping between the Taurus and the 'Lancer, I suspect I'll have both one day. Go for what serves you best as it is now and be ready to melt and change as the balancing and changes come and go.
Mostly using the MIS at the moment - seems middle of the road in all departments, save if I need to, I can launch a belly full of missiles at anything red on my radar.
 

NaffNaffBobFace

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Mostly using the MIS at the moment - seems middle of the road in all departments, save if I need to, I can launch a belly full of missiles at anything red on my radar.
It's a nice ride and no mistake and is nimble enough to make its weapons useful...

For me the connie is too slow at turning to be able to bring those 4 s4's to bear on the buttnuggets who harass me when I fly it, but the ability to carry a rover is just too useful to me to be able to give up on.

I suppose for your needs, the Quantum speed can be managed by changing the component to the "best" one in its class, so putting that out of our minds, higher speed in standard flight, atmo handling and range... I'd say keep an eye on the Murcury for what that turns out to be, but if that's not a goer...

If it's purely to get from A to B as swiftly as possible with no regard to anything else, there is nothing faster out of Quantum than the Herald. After that it's the 350R and then the dedicated racers like the Razer and the M50 but you are losing a lot of ability there just for some poke in the go go pedal.

I've flown a 350R for years, it's a little drifty but still handles well and acceleration is off the chain. For a ship advertised as "the fastest ship you'll ever call your own" to be second to the Herald is a bit of a kick in the boxer shorts, but I'm waiting for Beta and balancing before giving up on the old bird, before the rework she was super fun to fly as a knife-fighter running rings around a foe but with each pass it got more and more drifty and less and less able to evade. Now we have the auto-aim it's one-shot city for this and the dedicated racers a lot of the time. Again, balancing needs to come along for that.
 
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maynard

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Freelancer MIS, its got a crossfield drive, decent fuel capacity, and has a relatively high atmospheric speed.
The DUR is also quick (higher weapon DPS than a MIS as well)
ha ha, I bought a MIS to be an OP small combat ship

little did I know it would be such an excellent all-arounder

*gloat*
 

Mich Angel

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If you’re looking to accomplish tasks quickly then stealth can be useful so you’re interupted less often. For fast in atmo, fast in quantum, long range and stealth your only choicr is the Sentinel. And it has beds as bonus.
Yeah Sentinel is my favorite go to ship... never fails and it can sneak past easy keeping the speed up and if shit hit the fan it can easy hold its own even against several attackers.

🍻
 

BUTUZ

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ha ha, I bought a MIS to be an OP small combat ship

little did I know it would be such an excellent all-arounder

*gloat*
I've been telling people this for ages but no one ever listens!
 

Starscribe

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Freelancer MIS, its got a crossfield drive, decent fuel capacity, and has a relatively high atmospheric speed.
The DUR is also quick (higher weapon DPS than a MIS as well)

The Cutlass Black is also decent and has a long range for a small ship.
Sounds like I don't need a new ship. I need to pimp my ride! (I was looking for an excuse to buy something new I suspect. ..Still tempted to buy a Razor to squeeze into my Carrack..).
 
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